Caladium plant named ‘CRM STR OF15-691’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘CRM STR OF15-691’, characterized by its short and upright to mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; strap/lance-type leaves that are greenish white to lime green in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale green-colored venation and variably tinged with greyish red, reddish brown or dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole junction, and thin green-colored margins with dark red-colored edges; and petioles that are almost black in color with pale tannish pink-colored stripes or tannish pink and with brownish black-colored stippling and streaks.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CRM STR OF15-691’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a strap/lance leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘CRM STR OF15-691’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2014 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Lemon Blush’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,450, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘Flare’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,426, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CRM STR OF15-691’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Short and upright to mounding plant habit; dense and bushy         appearance.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strap/lance-type leaves that are greenish white to lime green         in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale green-colored         venation and variably tinged with greyish red, reddish brown or         dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole junction, and thin         green-colored margins with dark red-colored edges.     -   4. Petioles that are almost black in color with pale tannish         pink-colored stripes or tannish pink and with brownish         black-colored stippling and streaks.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Lemon Blush’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium have strap/lance-type leaves         whereas plants of ‘Lemon Blush’ have fancy-type leaves.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are greenish white to         lime green in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale         green-colored venation and variably tinged with greyish red,         reddish brown or dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole         junction, and thin green-colored margins with dark red-colored         edges whereas leaves of ‘Lemon Blush’ are chartreuse to lime         green in color with rose red-colored centers and with         development, rose red-colored areas may cover the entire leaf         surface.     -   3. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black         in color with pale tannish pink-colored stripes or tannish pink         and with brownish black-colored stippling and streaks whereas         leaf petioles of plants of ‘Lemon Blush’ are pink to tannish         pink in color with greenish brown-colored stippling and streaks.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Flare’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are greenish white to         lime green in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale         green-colored venation and variably tinged with greyish red,         reddish brown or dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole         junction, and thin green-colored margins with dark red-colored         edges whereas leaves of ‘Flare’ have rose red-colored centers         surrounded by a greyed green and pink-colored speckling and dark         green-colored margins.     -   2. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black         in color with pale tannish pink-colored stripes or tannish pink         and with brownish black-colored stippling and streaks whereas         leaf petioles of plants of ‘Flare’ are rose red in color.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘White Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘White Wonder’ in leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are greenish white to lime green in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale green-colored venation and variably tinged with greyish red, reddish brown or dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole junction, and thin green-colored margins with dark red-colored edges whereas leaves of ‘White Wonder’ are white to grey-green in color with light pink to white-colored venation and dark green-colored borders. In addition, plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of ‘White Wonder’ in leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black in color with pale tannish pink-colored stripes or tannish pink and with brownish black-colored stippling and streaks whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘White Wonder’ are tannish green in color with darker-colored stripes.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘White Delight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,216. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘White Delight’ in leaf color as leaves of the new Caladium are greenish white to lime green in color and variably flushed with dark pink, pale green-colored venation and variably tinged with greyish red, reddish brown or dark red, dark red-colored leaf petiole junction, and thin green-colored margins with dark red-colored edges whereas leaves of ‘White Delight’ are white to grey-green in color with white-colored main veins and dark green-colored borders. In addition, plants of the new Caladium differ from plants of ‘White Delight’ in leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are almost black in color with pale tannish pink-colored stripes or tannish pink and with brownish black-colored stippling and streaks whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘White Delight’ are olive green in color with dark green-colored tessellations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ grown in a container that has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is side perspective view of typical plants of the female parent, ‘Lemon Blush’ (left), ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Flare’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of typical plants of ‘White Delight’ (left), ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ (center) and ‘White Wonder’ (right).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet (FIG. 5) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ grown in an open production field.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘CRM STR OF15-691’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 750 μmol. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and full sunlight conditions. Plants grown in the shade house were eleven weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘CRM STR OF15-691’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Lemon Blush’             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,450.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Flare’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,426. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             are irregular to ovate in shape. Height: About 4 cm.             Diameter: About 4 cm to 6.9 cm. Segment height: About 1.7 cm             to 2.2 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm.             Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud size:             About 4.5 mm by 5.5 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy; somewhat             brittle. Color: Periderm, freshly-harvested: Close to 199D.             Periderm, dried: Close to 200A. Epidermis: Close to 159D.             Cortical tissue: Close to 155A to 155D. Axillary buds: Close             to 39D. Root description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots             with few lateral branches; color, close to NN155C. Rooting             habit: Medium density to sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 10-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Short and upright to mounding plant             habit; dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and             rapid growth rate; potted plants finish in saleable form in             about six to eight weeks after planting tubers; leaf             petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing points on             tubers; leaf petioles initially upright and slightly leaning             outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about 25             cm to 29 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted             plants.—When tubers are de-eyed, about 36 cm to 42 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About six to nine develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About five to six develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About 3             cm to 4.7 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Sheathing the             stem. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 200A to             200B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; strap/lance-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants, flattened.—When             tubers are de-eyed, about 14.5 cm to 16.5 cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants, flattened.—When             tubers are de-eyed, about 9.5 cm to 10 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate; cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull             sheen.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glaucous; dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—When developing,             upper surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 157D and 193B.             Margins: Close to 137D with edges, close to 187B. Basal             notch: Close to 187C. Leaf petiole junction: Close to N186A.             Midvein: Close to 145B; proximally, variably tinged with             close to 178A. Primary veins: Close to 145B to 145C;             proximally, variably tinged with close to 178A. Secondary             veins: Close to 137D. Peripheral veins: Close to 137C. When             developing, lower surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 157D,             145D and 193B to 193C. Margins: Close to 138B with edges,             close to 183A. Basal notch: Close to 187C. Leaf petiole             junction: Close to 187C. Midvein: Close to 138B. Primary             veins: Close to 144B and 144C. Secondary veins: Close to             144C. Peripheral veins: Close to 138A. Fully developed             leaves, upper surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 158C,             158D, N155C, 145B, 145C and 182D; towards the margins, close             to 184A variably tinged with close to 177A. Margins: Close             to 147C and 177A with edges, close to 183A. Basal notch:             Close to 187C. Leaf petiole junction: Close to N186C.             Midvein: Close to 147D variably tinged with close to 177A             and 183A. Primary veins: Close to 177A variably tinged with             close to 183A. Secondary veins: Close to 177C or 147D.             Peripheral veins: Close to 177A and 177B. Fully developed             leaves, lower surface: Interveinal areas: Close to 160D and             159D variably tinged with close to 187B. Margins: Close to             143D with edges, close to 183A. Basal notch: Close to 185A.             Leaf petiole junction: Close to 185A. Midvein and primary             venation: Close to 146D variably flushed with close to             N186C. Secondary veins: Close to lighter than 146D.             Peripheral veins: Close to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning             slightly outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade             house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 16             cm to 27 cm. Diameter, distally, shade house-grown potted             plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 2 mm to 3 mm.             Diameter, proximally, shade house-grown potted plants: When             tubers are de-eyed, about 4 mm to 5.5 mm. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; distally, glaucous; dull sheen.             Color, shade house-grown potted plants: Close to 202A or             200A tinged with close to 147A with streaks and stripes,             close to N170D or close to 200A to 200B tinged with close to             147A; or close to N170D with stippling, streaks and stripes,             close to 200A to 200B tinged with close to 147A; just below             the leaf junction, same as overall colors and flushed with             close to 181D. Wing length, shade house-grown potted plants:             About 3 cm to 4.5 cm. Wing diameter, shade house-grown             potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 6 mm. Texture             and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; dull             sheen. Wing color, shade house-grown potted plants: Outer             surface: Close to N155C marbled with close to 200A to 200B             and tinged with close to 147A; or close to N155C with             stippling, streaks and marbling close to 200A to 200B tinged             with close to 147A. Inner surface: Close to N155C; colors             and patterns on the outer surface are visible on the inner             surface. -   Inflorescence description: To date, inflorescence development has     not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to     have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above average     tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new Caladium have     not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to other pathogens     common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 40° C.     and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler zones,     tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a cool     dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the following spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘CRM STR OF15-691’ as illustrated and described. 